We Are The World

So last night I went to the international party on the good ship "Eastern Comfort" again. It was a lot of fun. As soon as I arrived, I made my way to the bar with the intent of ordering something inconspicuous. I asked for a "Berliner Weisse" off the menu. (I thought this would be some kind of basic blond beer.) It turned out to be a fizzy alcoholic drink mixed with red syrup served in a low, wide glass with two bright yellow straws. So much for inconspicuous, but, man, was it good!

I met an Irish guy named Barney who used to drive car service in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn. wow. small world.

I met a German named Jacob who told me that the Russians are right to invade Georgia.

I met a French guy named Chibo (sp?) who asked me what Americans think about French people. I tried to explain the expression "cheese-eating surrender monkey," but his English was pretty bad so I dont think he understood.

When I said I was from Washington, he told me he had a friend who lived near there in "Sahn-truh-viel." I took me a second to realize that he meant Centreville (Sehn-tuhr-vill) in Virginia. I know Centreville pretty well. It's a boring, redneck-ish backwood, but, in his French accent, it suddenly sounded very chic.

I also chatted with my old friend Miriam. (I have now seen her at 4 separate social occassions in Berlin, that definitely qualifies her as an old friend). She's American, and we discussed the upcoming election.

Yes. Yes. Another night in the city.